Publisher's Summary

After Vanilla Ice, but before Eminem, there was "Hot Karl", the Jewish kid from the LA suburbs who became a rap battling legend - and then almost became a star.

When 12-year-old Jensen Karp got his first taste of rapping for crowds at his friend's bar mitzvah in 1991, little did he know that he was taking his first step on a crazy journey - one that would end with a failed million-dollar recording and publishing deal with Interscope Records when he was only 19. Now, in Kanye West Owes Me $300, Karp finally tells the true story of his wild ride as "Hot Karl", the most famous white rapper you've never heard of.

On his way to (almost) celebrity, Jensen shares his childhood run-ins with rock-listening Southern California classmates who tell him that "rap is for black people" and then recounts his record-breaking rap battling streak on popular radio contest The Roll Call - a run that caught the eye of a music industry hungry for new rap voices in the early '00s. He also introduces his rap partner, Rickye, who constitutes the second half of their group, XTra Large; his supportive mom, who performs with him onstage; and the soon-to-be-household-name artists he records with, including Kanye West, Redman, Fabolous, Mya, and will.i.am. Finally he reveals why his album never saw the light of day (two words: Slim Shady), the downward spiral he suffered after, and what he found instead of rap glory.

Full of rollicking stories from his close brush with fame, Karp's hilarious memoir is the ultimate fish-out-of-water story about a guy who follows an unlikely passion - trying to crack the rap game - despite what everyone else says. It's 30 Rock for the rap set, 8 Mile for the suburbs, and quite the journey for a white kid from the valley.

Pretty fun stories about an entertaining figure. The most interesting chapter (and the book's namesake) came near the end. Wish it had came sooner. Enjoyable. Worth the download.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

NS3000

Los Angeles

11/06/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Great listen to a great story!"

It's a compulsive listen that flies by, a crazy trip through the just-before-the-bust music industry.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Chris Kottman

Muscatine, IA United States

10/06/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Great book, great reading"

Jensen Karp has lived the sort of life that would be hard to believe, but the story is written so earnestly and read so well that you are immediately sucked in and don't doubt for a moment anything that he says. Just an overall fantastic book!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Derek S. Boyer

8/06/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Book Season in full efect!"

There's not much more to say than that I'll probably listen to it again tomorrow. Thanks JK.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Chad

8/06/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Great Storyteller"

What made the experience of listening to Kanye West Owes Me $300 the most enjoyable?

What about Jensen Karp and Chris MacDonnell ’s performance did you like?

Nailed it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

So glad Jensen read the book. I laughed throughout.

Any additional comments?

Hey Jensen, where can I hear that late 90's demo? Can't wait for the movie.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Ulises Perez

18/06/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Funny, well written and interesting story."

Being a rap and hip hop fan of the late 90's and early 2000's ; I found his story fascinating. Im disappointed that I never heard of him during that time. And even more so that I will never get to hear any music from the album.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Jennifer B.

16/06/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Fantastic!!!! Great narration."

Great look into the music industry. Highly recommend this book to anyone. Great lessons on dealing with crap life throws at you.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Tyler

29/11/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Unique, hilarious, and heart-wrenching story"

What made the experience of listening to Kanye West Owes Me $300 the most enjoyable?

Jensen Karp rapping for himself adds a lot over the written text, and you definitely won't want to miss the proper British narrator they get to rap Karp's nee Karl's verses that he is too ashamed to do for himself. It is a rewarding construct and made me laugh every time.

What other book might you compare Kanye West Owes Me $300 to and why?

Nothing I can think of... The style of writing/reading is in the David Sedaris/Cheslea Handler/Chuck Klosterman vein but his white rapper experience is one-of-a-kind.

What about Jensen Karp and Chris MacDonnell ’s performance did you like?

All of it.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

There already is one... but maybe instead of "Kanye owes me 300" he could have gone with "P!nk wants to bitchslap me", which was one of my other favorite anecdotes from the book.

Any additional comments?

Do yourself a favor and listen to this book. The 2016 election results sent me into a deep depression for a week where I wasn't able to focus on any tv show/movie/podcast/book and would eventually turn everything off in favor of news consumption. This audiobook was the first and only thing to break that cycle because I was so drawn into this hysterical memoir. I think that speaks volumes to the quality of the work.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Jon P Harguindeguy

24/10/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Funny and honest"

Hearing of Jensen from LA's KROQ 106.7 as Kevin and Bean's hip hop correspondent, i have always enjoyed his insight and knowledge of hip hop as well as his humor. This book is cleverly written as well as read by Jensen. You feel the sincerity and laugh at the array of situations he was in. Great book overall.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

german

15/10/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Awesome book!"

What a great story. I grew up around the same time frame and area. I recognized a lot this hip hop references as I too was a very big hip hop head. The whole story was very well articulated and having it read by Jensen gave it a more personal feel. And I too would agree that Canibus should have never done a song with Wyclef.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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Euan

3/12/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Really enjoyed it - any rap fan will appreciate this insider's view!"

Really good story, funny and well-produced. I'm from the UK and have never heard of this guy. I bought it because i'm a Kanye fan but I am now also a Jensen Karp fan too!

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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